France 28-29 South Africa – Springboks dash hosts’ hopes and set up Rugby World Cup semi-final showdown with England

South Africa will face England in the Rugby World Cup semi-finals after overcoming hosts France 29-28 in a scintillating quarter-final.

Six tries were scored in the first half of a knockout match for the first time in World Cup history as two of the world’s best sides showed their quality at the Stade de France on Sunday.

Cyril Baille, Peato Mauvaka, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cheslin Kolbe and Damien de Allende went over inside the opening 30 minutes, though France had the half-time lead when Thomas Ramos – who had earlier seen a conversion attempt charged down – converted a penalty following a high tackle from Eben Etzebeth, who was sent to the sin bin.

France were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage, though, and Etzebeth went from pantomime villain to South Africa’s hero as he bundled over with 13 minutes remaining.

Substitute Handre Pollard then stepped up, converting the extras and what proved to be a game-clinching penalty, with Ramos’ subsequent three points not enough to inspire a late turnaround, and the Springboks will now face England in a repeat of the 2019 final.

Baille got the ball rolling inside four minutes, scoring France’s second-fastest World Cup try as Les Bleus, inspired by the returning Antoine Dupont, started in style.

Yet France found themselves behind after South Africa crossed on their first two attacks, through Arendse and De Allende respectively.

Mauvaka’s try, created by Dupont, restored parity, only for the brilliant Kolbe, who charged down Ramos’ conversion attempt from France’s second try, to get in on the act when he latched onto an inch-perfect kick from Jesse Kriel.

Yet Baille’s second score and Ramos’ penalty had France ahead at the break, and with Etzebeth off the pitch, the hosts sensed blood. South Africa, though, did not buckle, and their towering lock crossed for the first try of the second half at the culmination of a bold Springboks attack.

Pollard kept his nerve with his boot, and ultimately proved the match winner, with South Africa defending brilliantly into added time to get the job done.

In a match packed with memorable moments, Kolbe’s charge down on Ramos’ conversion attempt in the first half was an undoubted highlight.

It’s not something you see all that often in elite-level rugby, but with Ramos dawdling just a moment too long, Kolbe put on the afterburners to block the kick. Of course, plenty happened from then on, but given France lost by one point, it proved crucial.

Having only had surgery on a fractured cheekbone on September 22, Dupont would have been forgiven if he looked a little rusty.

Instead, France’s talisman was sublime. He dictated the tempo for Les Bleus in that thrilling first half, and his assist for Mauvaka’s try was sensational.

It’s a huge shame that the French crowd did not get to see more of the scrum-half this tournament, but there will be more World Cups to come for Dupont.

France: Ramos – 8; Penaud – 7, Fickou – 6, Danty – 7, Bielle-Biarrey – 6; Jalibert – 6, Dupont – 9; Baille – 8, Mauvaka – 8, Atonio – 6, Woki – 6, Flament – 7, Jelonch – 7, Ollivon – 7, Alldritt – 7.

Replacements: Bourgarit – 6, Wardi – 6, Aldegheri – 6, Taofifenua – 6, Cros – 6, Macalou – n/a, Lucu – n/a, Moefana – 6.

South Africa: Willemse – 7; Arendse – 8, Kriel – 8, De Allende – 8, Kolbe – 9; Libbok – 8, Reinach – 8; Kitshoff – 6, Mbonambi – 6, Malherbe – 6, Etzebeth – 8, Mostert – 7, Kolisi – 7, Du Toit – 6, Vermeulen – 7.

Replacements: Fourie – 6, Nche – 7, Koch – 6, Snyman – 6, Smith – 6, De Klerk – 7, Pollard – 8, Le Roux – 6.

4 – TRY! FRANCE 5-0 SOUTH AFRICA: What a start for the hosts! This has been outstanding, and after three minutes of sustained pressure, France get the breakthrough their play has deserved! Penaud’s quick hands do for the Springboks’ defence, and Baille – who scored against South Africa last year – goes over in the corner. It’s 5-0.

8 – TRY! FRANCE 7-5 SOUTH AFRICA: Out of nowhere, South Africa are on the board! What an incredible start to this match. Just moments after Etzebeth’s excellent defending to halt Jonathan Danty, Vermeulen forces a turnover, with Gael Fickou losing out in the midfield. Kurt-Lee Arendse pounces on the loose ball, and he bursts away down the right to hit back for the Springboks.

18 – TRY! FRANCE 7-12 SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa have the lead. Well, they’ve only had two attacks, but they’ve crossed over the line on both. A cross-field kick causes chaos for France, and South Africa capitalise on a mistake, with Reinach unselfishly feeding De Allende to bundle over.

22 – TRY! FRANCE 12-12 SOUTH AFRICA: It’s another try, and this time it’s France who hit back. The attacking quality on show here is simply outstanding, as Dupont takes a quick penalty, catching South Africa cold and driving a pass into Mauvaka, who goes over in the right-hand corner. All square.

23 – CHARGED DOWN! FRANCE 12-12 SOUTH AFRICA: You don’t see that often. Ramos took a second too long over his kick, and that handed Cheslin Kolbe the chance to charge the conversion down. What a moment. What a match.

26 – TRY! FRANCE 12-17 SOUTH AFRICA: Oh. My. Word. France can’t turn South Africa’s line and the Springboks pounce, with a perfectly weighted grubber kick from Kriel releasing Kolbe, who races through for the holders’ third try of the night. They’re back ahead. Scintillating stuff.

67 – TRY! FRANCE 25-24 SOUTH AFRICA: Etzebeth goes over. It’s a powerplay from the Springboks, who turned down the option of going for the posts from a penalty and instead elect to run it… And the aggression pays dividends as the big man drives to the line and bundles his way through.

70 – PENALTY – FRANCE 25-29 SOUTH AFRICA: With just over 10 minutes left to play in Paris, South Africa have a four-point lead. They took the option of the points this time, and Pollard was again at his best to punt the ball between the sticks. It dropped just over, and now it’s a four-point lead for the Springboks.

• This was the first time in World Cup history that six tries were scored in the first half of a knockout match.
• The Springboks had just 99 seconds of possession in France’s half during the opening 40 minutes.
• Arendse has scored 13 tries in 13 Tests for South Africa since making his debut in July 22. Only Damian Penaud (17) has scored more tries for a Tier 1 nation in that time.